Removable brush shank



Nov. 14, 1961 G. sc'HoLL REMOVABLE BRUSH SHANK 'Filed May 1, 1959 F fg.

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United States Patent iilice ddddd Patented Nov. 14, 1961 3,638,165 RER/IVABLE BRUSH SHANK Leidy G. Scholl, Pefected Broom Co., N. Line St., Lansdale, Pa. Filed lviay 1, 1959, Ser. No. Sl'i 2 Claims. (Cl. l576) This invention relates to a removable brush shank, and more particularly to a new and useful removable brush shank which will enable the shank of a brush to be replaced more easily without the usual threaded joints.

Since the threaded joint ordinarily utilized to removably secure a shank to a brush head is comparatively weak and very susceptible to damage inflicted by the head of the brush striking an object causing either the shank to break ofi" at the threaded joint or the head. of the brush to split, it is the main object of this invention to provide a means for removably securing a handle or shank to a brush head in such a manner so that damage to the brush head will not be encountered should the brush head be twisted or canted, in relation to the handle, thus avoiding the necessity to replace the relatively expensive brush head.

Another object, in accordance with the preceding objects, is to provide a brush shank which may be more easily secured to and removed from a brush head.

Still another object is to provide a removable handle or shank for a brush that will distirbute any stresses iriicted thereupon throughout a greater area thereby minimizing the possibility of the stresses causing damage to either the brush handle or the brush head.

A further object, in accordance with the preceding objects, is to provide a removable brush shank or handle that will lend itself to conventional forms of manufacture and thus be more economical to produce.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which: .1

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational View of a brush with the removable shank shown in position thereon, parts of the bristles of the brush being broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the brush shank, shown with the head of the brush removed therefrom;

Fi'GURE 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a brush with the shank removably secured thereto taken substantially upon a plane passing through the center of the brush and the brush shank; and showing the man= ner in which the shank is removably secured to the brush head.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 1t) generally designates the removable brush shank comprising the instant invention which is shown removably secured to the brush head 24 by means of resilient fasteners generally referred to by the reference numeral 14, see FiGURES l and 3.

The shank 19 has a handle portion 16 and a cover portion 18. The cover portion 18 comprises a generally elongated member substantially inverted U-shaped in cross-section having depending side walls 20 and curved end walls 22.

As can best be seen in FGURE 3, the cover portion 18 is positioned over the top of the brush head 24 with the walls 2li and 22 snugly received above the outer periphery of the upper portion 25 thereof and with the lower edges of walls 2t) and 22 abutting against the upper surface the peripheral flange 26 which defines the lower portion 27 of the brush head 24, see FIGURE 3.

Formed through brush head 24 is a tapered aperture 28 having downwardly converging side walls. Resilient fastener 14 is generally inverted U-shape in configuration having a bight portion 30 and depending legs 32 each terminating in an enlarged end portion 34 which is defined by laterally extending flange 36.

In operation, as can best be seen in FIGURE 3, the shank 1li is positioned with its cover portion 18 snugly embracing the upper portion of the brush head defined by flange 26 and with the lower surfaces of its side walls 2l) and end walls 22 in abutting relation with the upper surface of the peripheral flange 26. The resilient fastener 14 has been received through tapered aperture 28 and is retained therethrough by the biasing of its legs 32 away from each other with the upper surfaces of the laterally projecting flanges 36 in engagement with the under surface with the brush head 24.

If the shank is to be removed, the bristles of the brush are parted around the fastener 1d and the free ends of the legs 32 are urged towards contacting relation, whereupon the fastener 14 may be withdrawn from aperture 28.

It is to be understood that the shank 1G comprising the present invention may be constructed of one-piece of resilient material such as plastic or the like. However, it is only necessary to have the fastener 14 constructed of a resilient material.

Further, as can best be seen in FGURE 2 of the drawings, it is to be understood that the brush and cover portion 18 of the shank lil are of such configuration so as to enable them to be reversed in position thereby making it possible for the brush to be reversed in its relation to the shank so that the bristles of the brush will not always be bent in one direction when being used.

With attention now drawn to FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawing, it will be noted that the handle portion 16 of the shank lll tapers gradually away from the cover portion 1S and that the resilient fastener 14 is used to merely retain the brush shank 10 upon the head of the brush 24, and that should the head of the brush 24 strike an object while it is being used, that the shock of the impact will not be absorbed by the fastener itself but by the depending side walls 2 0 and the end walls 22 which snugly receive therebetween the upper portion ofthe brush head 24.

Thus it may be seen that herein described is a removable brush shank which is secured to the head of a brush so that damage thereto will not be encountered upon the head o-f the brush striking an object while in use, and a brush shank which may be very quickly secured to and removed from a brush head.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of tthe invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. In combination with a brush head o'f the type having an upper portion and an enlarged lower portion dei'ined by a peripheral flange thereon and at least one tapered aperture having downwardly converging side walls formed vertically through said brush had, a removable brush shank having a handle portion and a cover portion removably secured over said upper portion of said brush head, said cover portion comprising an inverted dish-shaped member substantially inverted U-shaped in cross-section with depending side and end walls, said side and end walls snugly embracing the corresponding portions of said upper portion, at least one fastening means permanently united with an depending from said cover secured through said aperture, the lower edges of said 3 side and end walls abutting said peripheral ange, sm'd fastener comprising a Ygenerally inverted U-shaped resilient fastener having a bight portion forming integrally withsaid cover portion and a pair of spaced integral and depending legs terminating in spaced and enlarged end portions defined by remote and laterally extending flanges overlying the adjacent Surfaces of said brush head defining said aperture, the lower surface of said brush head adjacent said aperture beingsubstantially at and Ydisposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said aperture, said laterally extending anges each including a at surface complementary to and abutting the lower Surfaces of said brush head adjacent said aperture in frictional engagement ttherewith.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said legs are normally resiliently urged to downwardly divergent p0- Y to remove said head from said shank.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 1,678,950 Nilsson July 3l, 1928 1,932,878 Akizawa Oct. 31, 1933 2,416,684 Fischer Mar. 4, 1947 2,877,478 Kohlwey et al Mar. 17, 1959 FORElGN PATENTS 447,580 France Jan. 9, 1919 

